As top fishery officials from around the country arrive in PEI for the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers meeting Nova Scotia’s Liberals are calling for a solution to the ongoing disputes over lobster fishing.
Particularly in southwest Nova Scotia tensions have been running high with indigenous lobster fishermen and commercial operators. The
Indigenous fishers have a right to a moderate livelihood fishery which was upheld by the Supreme Court. While commercial fishers argue that they need to still observe fishing seasons for the overall health of the lobster fishery.
At times the altercations have become violent, which the Liberals say will only continue if things go unchanged.
In a release from N.S. Liberal leader Zach Churchill he called on provincial officials and DFO to form a task force to improve the enforcement of fishery laws surrounding the lobster fishery.
“The Houston government needs to come out of this meeting with real solutions for our province’s fishing industry,” wrote Churchill. “This
sector is the lifeblood of our rural economy in Southwestern Nova Scotia. We can’t afford to allow this problem to get any worse.”
“Our lobster industry is the backbone of our local economy and everything must be done to protect it,” said Fisheries and Aquaculture Critic and Clare MLA Ronnie LeBlanc. “Both levels of government have tools at their disposal they could use to address this serious issue, they are just refusing to use them.”
In an interview with Acadia Broadcasting Churchill explained that enforcement has been challenging under the current system primarily because of a lack of clarity and political support.
“The enforcement agents for DFO don’t feel they have political support to their jobs,” said Churchill. “While the provincial government is avoiding its responsibility saying it’s a federal issue.”
Anything that happens on the water related to lobster fishing falls under DFO jurisdiction, whereas any land-based activity (sales, processing) fall under the jurisdiction of provincial authorities.
Churchill believes an enforcement body jointly authorized by both parties would be better suited to enforce laws related to lobster fishing as currently, he feels the system allows DFO and provincial fisheries officers to pass responsibility onto one another.
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